Commuter rail clears House

Senate up next

TALLAHASSEE -- For the third time in two years, the fate of Central Florida's $1.2 billion commuter-rail project will get settled in the divided state Senate.

The Florida House passed a rail package in rapid fashion Monday that would launch the SunRail commuter train, bail out South Florida's troubled Tri-Rail system and set the stage to collect up to $2.6 billion in federal stimulus money for a bullet train.

The final 84-25 House vote came after three days of muted debate in the special legislative session called to jump-start long-stalled commuter-rail projects and position Florida to better compete for federal transit cash that could be awarded in January. Rail critics called it a rushed effort that didn't adequately settle how any of the systems would be funded or used.

Today, the proposal heads to a more-skeptical Florida Senate, where it faces uncertain odds. Twice in the past two years, SunRail supporters have been unable to muster enough votes to pass the proposal creating the "no-fault" insurance agreement for operators on what would become a shared commuter/freight line beginning in 2012. That's when the first passenger cars would begin rolling between Poinciana and DeLand, through Orlando.

"We really don't know what will happen in the Senate," House Speaker Larry Cretul said. "But we're going to give them all the time until the expiration of the session" on Friday.

Besides giving the green light to SunRail, the package would divert about $60 million to a statewide Rail Enterprise in the future and send an additional $15 million to Tri-Rail. Supporters also say it better positions the state to land up to $2.6 billion for high-speed rail between Tampa and Orlando.

A few hours after the House vote, the bill made it through its first Senate committee hearing by a 5-4 vote but not before its leading opponent, Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, peppered supporters with questions about funding and liability after accidents. Now the bill must get through two more committees today before reaching the Senate floor.

Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, was among those who voted no, but indicated after the hearing that he might switch his vote if the scope of the bill is narrowed. He previously voted for SunRail but says he is upset because the new bill supports the state's efforts to win $2.5 billion in federal funding for a high-speed train that would link Orlando with Tampa.

"The overall benefit to the state doesn't warrant the cost," he said.

Meanwhile, Gov. Charlie Crist was busy doing some gentle arm-twisting, meeting with at least three reluctant Republicans who have voted against the SunRail commuter deal in the past.

The governor personally opened the door in his office reception area to greet Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole, on the Capitol's first floor.

Jones, a "no" vote in the past on SunRail, said he's leaning toward voting for it this time as long as there's general revenue on the hook to pay for the rail systems. "But if the new program is going to cost millions or hundreds of millions of general revenue that we do not have right now, then obviously I'd be hard-pressed to justify it."

One of the central issues still dividing the chamber is union protections sought by the Florida AFL-CIO for rail workers along state-run rail lines.

Senate President Jeff Atwater's office initially tried to work with the unions on the language, but House leaders are unwilling to go along.

Senate Democrats are also deeply skeptical over the rail package -- if a rowdy lunchtime caucus meeting Monday is any indication.

Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Parkland, the bill sponsor, was grilled by fellow Democrats over the bill's lack of protections for union workers.

Ring tried to downplay the bill as merely creating an infrastructure for rail projects in Florida. But other Democrats think the bill doesn't do enough to protect union jobs and is a financial boon for CSX, to which the state would pay $432 million to acquire the SunRail track bed.

At one point, Ring said Tri-Rail's financial struggles are Tallahassee's fault -- eliciting a strong rebuke from other Democrats.

"You're misleading the people," said Sen. Tony Hill, D-Jacksonville, who added Tri-Rail itself is the culprit.